Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of Plain Low-Carbon Steels after Quenching

Abstract

The mean austenite grain size of two plain low-carbon steels were investigated using International Standard (ISO 643) with determination of grain size by comparing to the standard charts and application to the index G equation.  The grain size of austenite was evaluated after heating at 1000-1200^๐C for 1-6 h and water quenching.  The grain size in many samples are similarly, because the heating temperatures were too high, and had been retarded recrystallization and grain growth by the aluminium single alloying.  During overheating, a coarse grain structure is obtained, such a coarse-grained structure will have poor mechanical properties.  It was found that the Vickers hardness estimated had good correlation to grain size.